The Sage Mark was a special kind of sealing technique.
Once it entered her body, Tsunade immediately felt something foreign take root inside her—her chakra instinctively pushing back, triggering a rejection response.
"When your body finishes adapting to my chakra," Kaito said calmly, brushing his teeth,
"that discomfort will fade."
"S-so that's how it works?"
Tsunade reached back and touched the black circular mark with a triangular core on the nape of her neck. "How long will it take?"
"When you stop feeling anything abnormal," Kaito replied.
"That means it's done."
He continued casually, toothbrush still in his mouth:
"At that point, try sensing how much chakra that area can store."
"Ugh—!" Tsunade winced, grabbing her neck.
Kaito glanced at her, deadpan.
"I told you. Don't force it yet."
"That area hasn't synchronized with your chakra system."
"If you mess with it now, you'll only extend the adaptation period."
"…Sorry. My mistake."
Tsunade lowered her head in embarrassment, then remembered something important.
"Then… about that poison I mentioned earlier."
"I don't have poison," Kaito said bluntly.
"But if you want him dead, I've got a better method."
"…What kind of method?"
Konoha Prison
After the two elders finished their hollow 'visits,' the old man inside the cell had already lost all hope.
Root—the organization he built with his own hands—had been officially disbanded.
Not the symbolic kind Hiruzen once declared.
This time, it was real.
Any Root member who resisted was immediately suppressed and arrested by ANBU.
Those who regained their freedom no longer needed him.
Which meant…
His value was now zero.
"So this is it," Danzō muttered to himself.
"My life ends here."
To truly dismantle Root, killing him was necessary—only then would the remaining members' loyalty collapse.
But one day passed.
Then another.
Silence.
No execution. No summons.
"…What is Tsunade planning?"
Danzō didn't understand. The lack of action was far more unsettling than a clean death.
Then—
The ground trembled, ever so slightly.
Danzō lowered his gaze—and instantly understood.
So this was how she planned to deal with him.
Outside, the guards had already fallen—all under genjutsu.
The prison grew unnaturally quiet.
Even the other inmates pressed against their bars, peering out into the darkness.
"Elder Danzō."
"You look miserable."
The voice was low and hoarse.
The figure was tall—its silhouette warped, unnatural.
In the darkness, only pale strands of hair were visible beneath a black cloak, eyes hidden behind a shell-like visor.
"Who's there?!"
"Whoever you are—please! Let me out!"
"Here! Over here! I'll give you everything I own—just let me go!"
The man ignored the other prisoners, walking straight past them—
Until he stopped in front of Danzō's solitary cell.
Danzō studied him closely.
Middle-aged. Unfamiliar features.
"Who are you?"
"Why attack Konoha Prison?"
No reply.
Then—crack.
A small toad popped out from beneath the cell floor.
Danzō's eyes widened.
"A toad from Mount Myōboku?!"
"Elder Danzō," the man finally spoke,
"you have two choices."
"One—wait here and die."
"Two—come with Kara and help us accomplish one task."
"…Kara?"
Danzō wanted to ask more—but the man's tone made it clear.
This was his last chance.
"With my body in this state," Danzō scoffed bitterly,
"do I even have value left?"
"Is that your answer?"
"…Then pardon the intrusion."
The man turned away.
The toad slipped through the bars, hopped onto his shoulder, glanced back once—
And they started to leave.
"Wait!"
"I accept!"
At this point, pride meant nothing.
If he missed this chance, he would rot here forever.
The Next Morning
ANBU discovered the truth.
The guards had been incapacitated by genjutsu.
Danzō had escaped.
"Damn it! Who did this?!" the ANBU captain snarled.
Danzō knew too many secrets.
If an enemy nation got hold of him—
The consequences would be catastrophic.
Hokage Tower
Despite her discomfort, Tsunade forced herself into the office.
The two elders were summoned immediately.
"What? Danzō was rescued?!"
Homura blurted out, shock flashing across his face—followed by a flicker of relief.
He glanced at Koharu.
Koharu looked back at him.
Both were confused.
Not you? Not me? Then who?
"Stop acting," Tsunade said, rubbing her temples.
"There are only five people here."
Outside the window, Jiraiya poked his head in, frowning.
"Why the sudden summons? I saw a lot of ANBU movement—"
Shhk—!
Before he could finish, multiple ANBU surrounded the area, eyes locked onto him.
Tsunade spoke coldly.
"Last night, a man used genjutsu to disable the prison guards."
"He rescued the criminal Shimura Danzō."
"He wore a black cloak…"
She paused.
"…His build was similar to yours, Jiraiya."
"What?!" ×2
The elders exchanged stunned looks.
"Impossible!" Jiraiya snapped.
"I was at the hospital all night! That wasn't me!"
Tsunade clenched her jaw.
"The intruder used Mount Myōboku toads."
Silence.
Even Jiraiya couldn't refute that.
"Jiraiya-sama," an ANBU stepped forward.
"Please accompany us to the Interrogation Division."
"This wasn't me!" Jiraiya growled.
But the situation had already spiraled out of control.
ANBU moved to restrain him.
Jiraiya retaliated instinctively—disarming them in a few swift exchanges.
Tsunade stood, chakra surging—then suddenly grabbed her neck.
"Damn it…"
"The technique Kaito gave me hasn't stabilized yet."
"Shizune—your turn."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade!"
Shizune formed seals—blue chakra blades flaring to life.
Koharu and Homura were shaken.
So even Mokuton awakening has a secret method…
Koharu quickly intervened.
"Tsunade, stop!"
"This can't be Jiraiya!"
"Then tell me who it was!" Tsunade shot back.
Jiraiya exhaled slowly.
"Tsunade."
"Do you know where Danzō fled?"
She nodded.
"ANBU is already in pursuit—
Before she finished, an ANBU appeared.
"Report!"
"The man who rescued Danzō summoned a giant toad."
"He used Fire Release—and even Rasengan."
"He's escaped beyond Konoha's effective pursuit range!"
"What?!" ×3
Now even Jiraiya was rattled.
Giant toads. Fire Release. Rasengan.
"That was your shadow clone, wasn't it?" Koharu demanded.
"Impossible!" Jiraiya roared.
"I would never free Danzō!"
He had already seen the Root report.
Danzō deserved far worse.
"And yet," Tsunade said coldly,
"your suspicion is overwhelming."
"If you refuse custody, you'll be treated as an enemy of Konoha."
"If you threaten the village—"
"Even if we were friends."
"I will kill you."
The room froze.
After a long pause—
"I choose the second option," Jiraiya said quietly.
"I'll stay at Konoha Hospital under surveillance."
Tsunade nodded.
"Wise choice."
Then she issued the order:
"Shimura Danzō is now classified as an S-Rank missing-nin."
"All units—report on sight. Pursuit if possible."
"Yes!"
Elsewhere — Outside the Land of Fire
A mountain valley.
Clear rivers. Open terrain.
Inside a cave, Danzō, missing an arm, leaned against the wall.
A toad sat beside him.
Then footsteps.
"So it really was you," Danzō said hoarsely.
"Jiraiya… to think you'd save me."
The man removed his hood.
White hair.
A cold smile.
"I'm not Jiraiya."
"My name is Kashin Koji."
"…Koji?" Danzō narrowed his eyes.
The techniques were identical—but the face wasn't.
"No more chatter," Koji said.
"We brought you out for one reason."
"And that is?"
"Because you are the chosen one."
Koji produced a square mechanical box.
"Only your blood can open this."
Skeptical, Danzō pricked his finger.
Click—crack.
Blinding light erupted.
When it faded—
A muscular humanoid figure, identical in face to Danzō, floated behind him.
"What… is this?"
"A manifestation born from mental energy," Koji explained.
"A Stand."
"It obeys you completely."
"…Its name?"
"Platinum Star."
"Then—attack him."
In an instant—
BOOM!!!
The cave detonated.
Koji vanished.
Danzō laughed.
"So obedient…"
Then Koji reappeared, hand trembling.
"Careful," he warned.
"I awakened it for you."
Danzō's eyes gleamed.
Strength. Speed.
No chakra traces.
"This power…"
"Let's leave the Land of Fire."
Koji nodded.
They fled.
Back in Konoha, reports came in.
Another party had been involved.
A test, not a battle.
The pursuit stopped.
Senju Compound
"Kaito" sipped tea calmly.
"Relax. He'll die beautifully."
Tsunade clenched her fist.
"Lucky bastard."
She finally understood.
Why they once called him—
The All-Powerful God.
And soon…
A Rinnegan would be added to the collection.
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